FEED CONVERSION RATIO OF MAJOR CARP, CIRRHINUS MRIGALA FINGERLINGS FED ON SOYBEAN MEAL, MAIZE AND MAIZE GLUTEN

Abstract

    A six week experiment was conducted in aquaria to evaluate the feed conversion ratio (FCR) of major carp Cirrhinus mrigala fingerlings fed on soybean meal (43.50% protein), maize (9.00% protein) and maize gluten (54.72% protein). The ingredients were supplied at the rate of 4% of wet body weight of fish twice a day. The fish gained the highest average body weight (0.900 ± 0.05g) on soybean meal, followed by maize gluten (0.543 ± 0.02g) and maize (0.421 ± 0.02g). FCR calculated for three treatments was the highest for maize (3.36), while for soybean meal it was the lowest (1.70). The correlation between average body weight and FCR was significantly positive in case of soybean meal (r=0.801) and maize gluten, whereas in case of maize, the correlation was non-significantly negative (r = -0.518).

Key words: Major carp, soybean meal, maize, maize gluten, FCR